What would you have done?

@ilyzium (1197)
Canada
November 23, 2009 3:26pm CST
I was driving along to a meeting, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw what appeared to be this little animal twitching and thrashing about on the ground (grass). On closer inspection I saw that it was a tiny little squirrel who appeared to be in pain and was only moving from it's front paws, and the back ones were just dragging along. I'm guessing that it was probably hit by a car and the driver just took off. It just looked so sad that I wanted to cry for it. I am the biggest animal lover out there, simply love them all, well all except snakes. I was wondering what to do but I was kind of last minute on my way to a meeting. It was on a busy street and I did see that there were a couple signs posting, saying no stopping, and I admit I didn't want to get a ticket. That poor little squirrel is haunting me now and I feel very upset for having seen that little squirrel. What would you have done if you would have seen the squirrel?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
24 Nov 09
Just thinking about it makes me sad. I wouldn't know what to do either. If it was hit by a car I guess it needed to go to a vet. I can't think of any good way to handle it. If it were a dog or cat maybe you could call the police. They would probably call animal control, but maybe they would help it. I don't think they would do anything for a squirrel. Just imagine how you would have felt if it was your car that hit it. Maybe whoever did it doesn't care at all.
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@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
24 Nov 09
Oh I know, I think that if it were my car that would have hit the squirrel, I probably would have had a heart attack from the shock of it all. My husband however says that since a squirrel is a rodent related to a rat, it probably also carries rabies? I know of course that rats do but I didn't think that squirrels did? I'm actually going to go for a drive to see if the little squirrel is still there and if it is I'll drop it off at this animal hospital that's nearby.
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@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
25 Nov 09
Aw yes I know if I were to hit a rabbit that would literally ruin my day. Even more so if I were to hit a little cat or dog, because yes I'd be thinking of my own pet and someone else's loss. Someone else mentioned to me that squirrels also carry rabies btw.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
24 Nov 09
I think you did the best thing by continuing onto your meeting. I would be afraid to help a squirrel or any wild animal that was injured. If they are hurt, they could bite or scratch and they can carry rabies. I know how you feel because I am a huge animal lover as well.
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@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
25 Nov 09
Well you know I was thinking that they might have rabies but wasn't sure. However, a while later I decided to go for a drive to locate the little squirrel, and it was nowhere to be found, so I know that some Samaritan did in fact come to it's rescue. But yes I just don't like to see any animal in pain, as they are so innocent and helpless, children too.
@coldmoon (1088)
• France
23 Nov 09
If I were in such a situation, I would call for an animal care center for a help. If it was not dangerous, i.e if I could stop for a short moment, I would do to save the squirrel, as I take the life of a poor animal more important than a ticket. It's surprising, or it's sad that the biggest animal lover didn't share the same thought.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
24 Nov 09
Well you're probably right and yes I do feel really guilty that I didn't stop to take care of the squirrel. I witnessed this a few hours ago and I'm still being haunted by it.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Nov 09
ilyzium do you know that your first thought to do something to perhaps save the little squirrel was your gut instinct whichone should always listen to. I would have done what you should have done,try to find an animal rescue center and take the squirrel there. forget the ticket and be late to the meeting, the little squirrel should have come first.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
25 Nov 09
I know I was really regretting my decision later on because it was haunting me. Well, I did drive by a little bit later and saw that it was no longer there, so I really believe that a Samaritan came to it's rescue and took care of it. It's somewhere being attended to right now. But yes next time I'll just pick up the animal and take it to an animal rescue place.